Tax Policy Scholarship Competition

The Selection Panel will be looking for creative ideas, original thinking and sound and reasoned research and analysis.

In addition to the above broad criteria, proposals will be judged by reference to all or some of the following criteria –

• Impact on the New Zealand economy, including GDP and business growth.
• Social (including distributional equity) and environmental acceptability.
• Feasibility of introduction, including political and public acceptability.
• Impact on simplicity of tax system.
• Ease of administration by taxpayers and Inland Revenue, or other relevant government agencies, and impact on compliance costs.
• Quality of written presentation.
• For finalists, quality of oral presentation.

Applicants should avoid repeating material e.g. in working group reports and consultative documents that is already available. However, additional analysis of such material, including contrary views if held, is encouraged but must be supported.

1. Submit a 1,500-word overview of your proposal. The overview must enable the Selection Panel to understand your proposal, what it seeks to achieve, and to make an initial assessment of how it meets the judging criteria.
2. Four finalists will be selected .
3. Finalists will submit a 4,000-word final proposal.
4. Finalists will be invited to present their proposals and to answer questions, at an in-person event. The winner and runner-up will be announced at this function.

The Selection Panel will be made up of senior professionals with tax policy experience. The panel is appointed by the Tax Policy Charitable Trust.

If you’re wanting to discuss your application, have questions about the process or would like some general guidance, please email tpct@tmnz.co.nz

You might be curious about previous winning proposals, so we’ve provided a link to these here. Our previous winners have gone on to achieve some wonderful things and make a real impact on tax policy in New Zealand and further afield! See Tax Policy Scholarship Alumni, here.